Toyota, Lexus Mat Recall: 3.8 Million Vehicles Recalled Over Floor Mats

WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will recall 3.8 million vehicles in the United States, the company's largest-ever U.S. recall, to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.

The recall will involve popular models such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid.

Toyota said it was still working with officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find a remedy to fix the problem and said owners could be notified about the recall as early as next week. Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said until the company finds a fix, owners should take out the removable floor mat on the driver's side and not replace it.

"A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop a vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death," Miller said.

NHTSA said it had received reports of 102 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck on the Toyota vehicles involved. It was unclear how many led to crashes but the inquiry was prompted by a highspeed crash in August in California of a Lexus barreling out of control. As the vehicle hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, family members made a frantic 911 call and said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn't stop the vehicle.

"This is an urgent matter," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "For everyone's sake, we strongly urge owners of these vehicles to remove mats or other obstacles that could lead to unintended acceleration."

The recall will affect 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.

Toyota's previously largest U.S. recall was about 900,000 vehicles in 2005 to fix a steering issue. The company declined to say how many complaints it had received about the accelerator issue.

The Japanese automaker warned owners that if they think their vehicle is accelerating out of control, they should check to see whether their floor mat is under the pedal. If a driver can't remove the floor mat, Toyota advises drivers to step on the brake pedal with both feet until the vehicle slows and then try to put it into neutral and switch the ignition to accessory power.

For vehicles with engine start/stop buttons, Toyota said the engine can be shut off by holding the button down for three seconds.

In the August incident near San Diego, the fiery crash of a 2009 Lexus ES 350 killed California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, and three members of his family on State Route 125 in Santee. The runaway car was traveling at more than 120 mph when it hit a sport utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. One of the family members called police about a minute before the crash to report the vehicle had no brakes and the accelerator was stuck. The call ended with someone telling people in the car to hold on and pray, followed by a woman's scream.

NHTSA investigators determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was slightly longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle, something that could have snared or covered the accelerator pedal.

Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the final report had not yet been submitted in the California case.

"We don't know what the actual cause was of that accident other than preliminary reports that have been published so it's impossible for us to comment on that particular incident," Hanson said.

In mid-September, Toyota ordered 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers nationwide to ensure that each new, used and loaner vehicles had the proper floor mats and that the mats were properly secured.

In September 2007, Toyota recalled an accessory all-weather floor mat sold for use in some 2007 and 2008 model year Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry vehicles because of similar problems.

For more information, consumers can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's hotline at [phone], Toyota at [phone] or Lexus at [phone].

___

On the Net:

Toyota Motor Corp.: http://www.toyota.com

Lexus: . http://www.lexus.com

Comments

[KIVPossum]

04:01 AM on 10/02/2009

In the past 40+ years I've owned over 60 vehicles. The majority of them did not have any system to hold mats in place, so the majority of them allowed the mats to slide. Mats don't slide around instantly, they move over several drives through entry and exit of the driver. It's a simple matter to look at the mat as you get into the car, just as you should look at your tires. Most drivers only get it and drive and don't pay any attention to their vehicle.

The ultimate solution is to buy a car with rubber flooring rather than carpet, then drill a few holes in the floor pan. You can easily hose it out occasionally. It works great on farm trucks but might not be ideal on a Lexus.

[Patriot86]

09:36 AM on 10/02/2009

Floor mats are Toyota's latest excuse; it is a mechanical problem. I had this piece of crap Camry and Toyota was awful to deal with. I have friends who tell me their Toyota's are so great. Based on my experience I ask them so you have had no problems and I get...well we had to fix xyz but really it was no big deal...they go on to basically talk about how they had to fix their crap while defending Toyota-fascinating. Now that people are keeping cars longer. It will only get worse because foreign cars are expensive to fix-more so then domestics.

[KIVPossum]

10:29 AM on 10/02/2009

Sorry you had a bad experience with Toyota. I've put over a 2 million miles on 10 Toyotas and the worst problem I had was a failed servo motor in a rear window. My last went 125K with nothing but oil changes....same brakes, same clutch, not maintenance. I always think Toyota but sadly can not afford them now, so own Dacia.

[michmudder]

07:42 PM on 10/01/2009

NY Times: Toyota Floor-Mat Problem Was Known Two Years Ago
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/toyota-floor-mat-problem-was-known-two-years-ago/

[Patriot86]

09:39 AM on 10/02/2009

Yeah these companies make a decision that it is cheaper to let people die then make needed changes in their product which is why I am absolutely against tort reform. Toyota has more incentive since they are a foreign manufacturer, and very difficult to sue. The poor family of those who died will probably not receive a dime in compensation for the loss of an entire family...stinks.

[sheeple723]

08:53 PM on 10/02/2009

The funniest part about this morbid story is that people are not up in arms about this. It's amazing the blinders that people can put on which allow them to deny reality.

[michmudder]

07:14 PM on 10/01/2009

There is an excellent analysis of the floormat recall over at the automotive blog KickingTires, with additional information on how it affects Prius models.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/09/explaining-the-toyota-floormat-recall.html

[imjustsayingthat]

05:56 PM on 10/01/2009

I read an article a few months ago about Priuses accelerating & the driver not being able to control them. This led to some fairly bad accidents. Toyota tried to blame the mats, but it seemed like more of an electrical problem. I found the article just now:

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-04-22/news/the-flip-side-of-the-perfect-prius/

[FlightLover]

01:14 PM on 10/01/2009

Has anyone else had the problem of calling their dealer and being told "It's all media hype, no recall" --????

[MyPOLtiks]

09:49 AM on 10/01/2009

Where is the change, Obama? Where is the REFORM?

Job loss equates to home loss No jobs, no recovery. Why so many people out of work even with the stimulus spending? Why are more jobs still being shipped overseas? There is no such thing as a jobless recovery; that is n3ocon jargon.

good articles... http://www.iamned.com

meanwhile, the stock market is surging and everyone is too busy to counting their money to show any initiative.

[mratcheson]

10:01 AM on 10/01/2009

Are you saying the Toyota recall is due to Obama's lack of change?

[freedom4allau]

04:39 PM on 10/01/2009

what does this have to do with floor mats??

[michmudder]

06:49 PM on 10/01/2009

it has to do with spamming his website.

[miker5]

07:55 PM on 09/30/2009

With only seconds to live, only a liberal would call a government agency (911) to save them. Putting the transmission in neutral would have done the trick.

[irishgawdess]

05:31 AM on 10/01/2009

"With only seconds to live, only a liberal would call a government agency (911) to save them. "

Since a right-wing conservative continually votes to rid our society of such helpful agencies as just one more thing the US gov't shouldn't be paying for "with MY taxes", this seems like status quo for one of them. It's just gotta be a typo. Therefore, logic tells me that sentence should have read: "With only seconds to live, only a right-wing conservative would call a government agency (911) to save them."

Freeper.

[lisaman]

09:44 AM on 10/01/2009

I was a off duty police officer actually and who cares what his politics were, him and his family are dead.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TOYOTA_FLOOR_MATS?SITE=KYWAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[408SofGate]

04:46 PM on 09/30/2009

I had experienced a 1986 Honda Accord floor mat that would bunch up, over time, behind the brake pedal. This would prevent the pedal from being depressed if not pulled back into place. Driver seat floor mats need to be secure and unable to slide around.
What a nightmare for that family of four killed from a high speed out of control vehicle.

[HappyRabbit]

04:27 PM on 09/30/2009

You can bet your butt that some bean counter intervened with engineering to change the mats and save a few bucks.

On another note, a driver had a thought to dial a cell phone and talk to a 911 operator but not the common sense to put the car in neutral or turn off the key???????????

[mratcheson]

04:49 PM on 09/30/2009

Well, my Lexus doesn't have an ignition key, there's a button. The article says the engine will turn off if you hold the button for three seconds, but I didn't know that until I read it. And I'm wondering if three seconds would be soon enough in an emergency. Putting it in neutral would have been a good thing.

[ResidualSelfImage]

03:45 PM on 09/30/2009

The new camrys are ugly.
You can screw the floormats to the floor its a good way to go.

[Libfemdem]

02:31 PM on 09/30/2009

My Prius is included in this recall.
Is it simply a case of removing the floor mat, which I did years ago,( because front driver floor mats are inherently dangerous anyway. I've had plenty of close calls on plenty different cars)? I don't want to "bring it in" unless there is a problem with the accelerator actually sticking.
Do they even know what they are "fixing"?
Sounds like they are guessing.

[Ken Maddox]

05:08 PM on 09/30/2009

Floor mats seem to be a rather benign accessory in every automobile in the world except Toyota.
How can a floor mat be inherently dangerous? Perhaps if you drape it over your accelerator, or tie the pedal to the mat and then push it forward, but that seems to be an anal retentive thing to do.
I am still trying to figure out how to design a killer floor mat, these Japanese wonder cars just have everything don't they?

[Libfemdem]

10:23 PM on 09/30/2009

Don't get your panties in a wad...
We're talking about a floor mat here.
I haven't had good luck with floor mats...
Why the anger?

[Patriot86]

09:42 AM on 10/02/2009

No it is not. This is Toyotas BS...I tell you it is electrical.

[Libfemdem]

10:46 PM on 10/02/2009

Thank you... That's kind of what I thought also...
: (

[DFL]

02:07 PM on 09/30/2009

Another reason I'm proud to practice economic patriotism with buying american "brands" only.

[mick7191]

02:25 PM on 09/30/2009

Aren't Toyotas made in Tennessee?

[EdCoughlin]

03:15 PM on 09/30/2009

Only a handful, many like the Prius are 100% made in Japan. Even when made in america the engineers are in Japan, most of the components are made outside the US (vs GM using mainly American parts suppliers) and all the profit goes to Japan (as well as most of the management jobs).

Toyota have tens of thousands of jobs they support in America, GM supports over 10 times as many. There is more to buy American then just "oh it was assembled in America". Assembly is 10% of the work that goes into designing and building a car.

Toyota is also a notorious union buster, the only union plant they have is the one they co-ran with GM (that made the pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix which are roughly the same car) and they are closing it to keep unions from forming elsewhere. They locate only in southern states where they can keep wages depressed and unions weak (with southern union busting laws) so even when they ARE in the US they're a bad employer.

But keep feeling good about yourself as a liberal that supports union busting and job outsourcing or an American first conservative who is putting America second to foreign overlords.

[Ken Maddox]

12:13 AM on 10/01/2009

KY, IN, TX, and CA in the US. I think. that is right.

[Cloball]

03:13 PM on 10/01/2009

Me too. We have only Fords. Never bought a Japanese car. We've never had any problems with any of our cars. None have ever left us stranded either!

[sheilacllr]

02:00 PM on 09/30/2009

The recall is based on a colleague of mine killed along with his entire family. Officer Mark Saylor did safety inspections for tow trucks, ambulances, etc. He tested school bus drivers for our area and I know with every fiber in my being that he did everything possible to stop that vehicle but just couldn't. Everyone is saying why didn't he do this or that. If your accelerator is stuck and the brakes are not working you will not be able to just shift the gear into neutral. Sometimes shifting into neutral will not slow the vehicle down anyway, it depends on the vehicle. Secondly, from what we were told at Officer Saylor's memorial service he was not familiar with the new technology for this vehicle being it was a rental while his vehicle was being serviced. There is a pending investigation regarding this tragic accident. We are still reeling from the loss and I do not want someone else going through this. I am glad Toyota is taking this stand on this.

[Ken Maddox]

12:22 AM on 10/01/2009

This sounds more like a broken engine mount than a simple accelerator sticking open.
If the motor mounts break the engine can torgue over to one side. This often will cause several things to happen all at the same time.
1. The accelerator can be forced wide open.
2. The vacuum hose can be dislodged from the power brakes.
3. The transmission shifting lever can be jammed.
The end result is a rapidly accelerating car, that has degraded braking, and the inability of changing the gear selection.
This will instill panic in the most seasoned and qualified driver and will most likely end in a tragic wreck.
From your account I would not be surprised if that is what happened to your friend. The only thing you can do to stop this is to kill the engine.. If you can think fast enough with all these things happening to do so, you are a calm, cool, collected individual. With the new push button ignitions odds are even higher of accomplishing the task.
My condolences to you for the loss of a friend and to his family for their loss.

[Steve Magruder]

12:40 PM on 09/30/2009

If the accelerator is stuck, wouldn't shifting to Neutral help that? Then, the car would gradually decelerate and then they could use the brakes to stop.

[emerson7]

01:57 PM on 09/30/2009

have you never experienced flooring the accelerator while in neutral? turning the key to off without locking to the steering column would probably be a better...and safer option.

[MajorKong]

03:21 PM on 09/30/2009

It'll get noisy, but on a modern car the rev-limiter will keep the engine out of danger.

If you shut the key off you'll lose your power brakes, and more importantly your power steering.

[Patriot86]

09:47 AM on 10/02/2009

I had a breakdown in Tennessee going up a mountain. Some little plastic piece that held all the hoses broke. The hoses alll broke. I lost everything steering, brakes etc. I shifted into part and put EB on we stopped inches before we went over the side...we were traveling at highway speed but going up hill...the police were amazed I got the car stopped and over to the side of the road...it is not easy to stop a car moving at highway speed much less one with an open accelerator. Oh and I had to replace a head gasket later as mine was bent when the hoses broke...such fun.

[sheeple723]

12:31 PM on 09/30/2009

I hope this gets plastered all over front pages everywhere (you know if it was GM or Ford it would).

Between this, the infamous sludge problem (you want to read some good stuff, Google Toyota sludge problem, complete with Toyota denying the problem and blaming customers for "poor maintenance practices"), the Tundra being a quality nightmare, and Honda airbags killing people, it's a good time to buy American.

I'd rather replace an alternator or a window motor in my Pontiac than die because I couldn't stop my Camry from running a red...

[EdCoughlin]

03:17 PM on 09/30/2009

This plus the recent revelation that Toyota has burned internal documents to hide quality problems that led to similar deaths really shows what a good ethical company it really is. Their immoral actions aren't limited to just union busting anymore. Enjoy your foreign overlords those of you who keep making sure American jobs are outsourced to Japan, Germany and Korea. Thanks for putting America last.

[evan la]

07:57 PM on 09/30/2009

If U.S. mfgs made (or bothered to import) a car that I wanted to drive, I'd be driving a U.S. made car.

Hmmm. Acura RSX, or Chrysler Sebring? Not a tough decision.